Brown Mogotsi, accused of meddling in police affairs, criminal past dates back to '90s

JOHANNESBURG - Brown Mogotsi, a North West businessman accused of meddling in police affairs, has a dark criminal past, with several run-ins with the law dating back to as early as 1997.

EWN has reliably learnt that Mogotsi has multiple files against his name, including for assault, theft, fraud and defeating the ends of justice.

ALSO READ:

- Madlanga Commission of Inquiry set to kick off in Pretoria

- From KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s bombshell to the Madlanga Commission: A timeline of the police crisis

- Madlanga Commission: Analysts dissect SAPS power struggle after Mkhwanazi’s claims

Earlier in 2025, Mogotsi was identified by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as a key figure in alleged interference in a high-profile investigation, with claims that he also has close ties to Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu.

All of the cases against Mogotsi are confined to the North West province, a place where he operates two businesses, a bottle store and a restaurant.

North West police declined to comment on the specifics of each case against Mogotsi, claiming he was going to testify at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry; hence, they did not want to get involved.

However, reliable police sources confirmed his criminal history to EWN.

Mogotsi’s claims that he's an informant for crime intelligence could not be verified.

Despite reading the messages, Mogotsi did not answer detailed questions EWN put to him about his criminal history.

During his explosive briefing in July, Mkhwanzai claimed to have evidence of messages between Mogotsi and tenderpreneur and underworld figure Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, who is currently behind bars for attempted murder and money laundering.

The messages presented by Mkhwanazi alluded to collusion between the pair, whereby Mogotsi was attempting to derail investigations by members of the political killings task team into Matala.